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The assumption of many Americans has been that religion is supposed to provide direction and mandates for morality and the promotion of human welfare and not exacerbate and add to the misery and degradation of abuse and dysfunction. There are some individuals who see the injustices, challenge them, refuse to look away, and not report them. This is not an indictment of all who partake of religion and its proclivities.

Deep probing investigations should be conducted on religious and social institutions that cover up and engage in child abuse, emotional abuse, and psychological warfare on its members. These abuses have been ongoing for centuries, yet it is bypassed and ignored in many cases. Well, it used to be. As of late, we have been seeing an upsurge in the number of pedophiles and predators hiding behind their unopened Bibles being convicted, sued, and exposed. Modern technology is allowing for the masses to see that these are not necessarily isolated events. People are starting to share their stories and/or the stories of friends and family who were taken advantage of and used by those who hide behind the façade of religion. I would encourage people to continue to share their stories and refuse to finance the misconduct. Their continued support is tacit agreement and makes them complicit especially if they are aware of the abuse taking place. Many use the excuse that they didn’t see it with their own eyes, so they have no place to judge.

Many have been scared and shamed into silence by these scripture quoting predators. They particularly like to quote “Judge not” and “Touch not.” These particular scriptures have been taken out of context and are used to subjugate and oppress the very people that these heretics claim to protect and love.

It is my opinion that parents that indoctrinate their children from birth, force them to go to church, and chastise them for speaking the truth about the wrongs that they see and encounter in these institutions, are guilty of child abuse. As an adult you also witness the wrongdoings, yet you excuse it away. You admonish the child to do as you say and not as you do. Then you play fetch and step, hide and go seek, house, and doctor with those who profess, along with yourself, and expect your child to not emulate the behavior being displayed. You also encourage your child to listen to the man or woman of God, which in turn gives these predators an opportunity to take advantage of your vulnerable child. You have done your child(ren) an injustice.

Psychological abuse is inflicted on those who are vulnerable and those who refuse to submit to the authority of the perpetrator. The Bible has been manipulated and twisted through the teaching of doctrines that encourages the faithful to accept what they are being told and instructed to do without question or justification. Many have been instructed from birth to revere and respect those who hold authority over them. This alleged authority is used, in some cases, to hurt the very people who hold them in high regard. In most cases, it is directed at children and emotionally, psychologically, and physically vulnerable adults. Whether the intentions are malicious, vicious, or well meaning remains to be discussed.

The most difficult part for many seems to be leaving their social construct. They may be walking away from friends and family who have supported them throughout the years. These relationships tend to become damaged or destroyed by the direction of those in leadership. Many are vilified and demonized because they didn’t fall in line with the wishes of those in leadership. These victims have invested their money, time, reputation, and emotions into these institutions and deserve to be treated better than the latest bag of trash to be discarded to make room for the next victim..I mean member. It is never easy to walk away from something that you have known all of your life. They have seen how others have been treated when they left or kicked out of the fold. Some have been brainwashed into believing that their ‘faith’ has been compromised because they left and dared to challenge the (wo)man of God. They may tell you that you are leaving God’s will, but it is a mind control mechanism. This is simply not true. Faith, or lack thereof, is a personal journey or relationship. They have been conditioned to believe that the world is against them and has nothing but evil and malice to offer. Which is the lesser of the two evils; the abusive environment or starting over in an alleged unfamiliar territory?

Religion tends to foster, cultivate, and encourage co-dependent behavior. They use fear, guilt, shame, manipulation, and brainwashing by twisting the scriptures, via proof texting, to create this environment and behavior. Please just be mindful of the tactics used to entrap you and your loved ones. These are only a few of the many that have been developed over the years.

Even if you decide to remain, please research what you are being taught and do not idolize that (wo)man who claims to speak for some higher authority. Be your own person and use your discernment.

HIV/AIDS has been one of the Black churches dirty little secrets. Blacks have more new HIV infections, AIDS diagnoses, individuals living with HIV, and HIV related deaths than any other cultural group in this country. Has your pastor preached about that? This epidemic has been willfully ignored. The current outreach is minimal, at best. Why are they so deafening silent on an issue that has greatly affected their local communities, overall leadership and congregations? One does not die from HIV, but from complications of HIV. Have you noticed that cancer related deaths have gone up exponentially? When the whispers and murmurs of HIV/AIDS are brought to light, members are admonished, chastised, and bullied into silence. I would like to believe that church leadership would address this issue by assisting their members to get educated, tested, medicine, treatment, and clinical study groups. They apply for grants for a multitude of other programs, why aren’t they applying for grants to help those in their community to prevent being infected?

In the Black community, HIV impacts women, youth, gay, and bi-sexual men the most. Is this why the Black church is so silent? Is the misogyny and perceived hatred for the LGBTQ community so embedded that you are willing to sacrifice the members of these communities to prove to your imaginary God that you are his team? I don’t understand the silence of Black women and the Black LGBTQ community. Blacks account for over 500,000 cases of HIV out of the 1.1 million cases in America. Blacks comprise approximately 12% of the US population, yet they account for approximately 46% of new infections. The AIDS diagnosis for Blacks is 9 times than that of whites. Doesn’t this bother you? HIV related deaths are over 50% in the black community. HIV is the 4th leading cause of death for Black men and the 3rd for Black women. Doesn’t this concern you?

Your silence is tacit agreement. Do you hate yourselves that much? Have you been beaten down by the vitriolic rhetoric of the church so much that you acquiesce to their ignorance and hatred? It is time for us to take a stand and demand better by organizing and providing the outreach and education.

District of Columbia has the highest AIDS rate in the country. More than half of Blacks estimated to be living with an AIDS diagnosis and the majority of new AIDS diagnoses among Blacks in the South, per the Kaiser Foundation.

The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS) found that Blacks were more likely to report postponing medical care because they lacked transportation, were too sick to go to the doctor, or had other competing needs.

Per the Kaiser Foundation, in 2009 only 33% of African Americans claim that they have heard of AIDS as compared to 62% in 2004.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funding for HIV/AIDS. USAID has grants available for regional and local non-governmental organizations, universities, and faith-based organizations up to $500,000. The CDC HIV Prevention has funding opportunities available. The money is out there, why aren’t they partaking of these wonderful opportunities? The CDC also has a special program that is dedicated to HIV prevention that serves Young Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM of color). There are but a few grant and funding opportunities available, but I have yet to hear of many churches applying for these monies and helping their community. Why is that?

The money is available, so why is the silence so deafening? Why isn’t the Black community outraged? There are a multitude of people dying from this horrible disease and no one is saying anything. Maybe if they addressed the issue on one of those reality shows or intelligence diminishing weekly programs someone one would take notice. The apathy is frustrating, yet telling.

Is that the problem? Homosexuality is not an affliction or plague nor can one be delivered from it. Please stop telling people that they can pray the gay away and be delivered. Those are lies and you know it. If it was true, we wouldn’t have so many examples of ‘delivered’ homosexuals being caught indulging in homosexual activities. Let these people live their lives and be themselves.

Vive et alteros vivere permitte. Live and let live.

Are they still trying to bury their heads in the sand and not address sexuality in the Black community? Sexuality is not going to go away just because you don’t talk about it. That’s not how that works. Maybe if it is addressed, we will be able to get a handle of this epidemic and also the teen pregnancy epidemic. However, I digress. Einstein

The Kaiser Foundation is one of many organizations that offer information on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the black community. According to their fact sheet, published March 2011, “Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV/IDS since the epidemic beginning, and that disparity has deepened over time.” This fact alone should have had black clergy protesting over the disparities. Yet they sit on the sidelines and allow a preventable disease to ravage their communities. Instead, they attempt to deflect the issue and perpetuate the myth of calling HIV/AIDS a gay disease.

Greater than AIDS and The Black AIDS Institute are organizations that have reached out to the communities. June is National HIV testing month. Go to this site, put in your zip code, and go get tested. It is quite simple. They have a mouth swab test; your results are produced within 20 minutes. and the results are confidential. Although, it would be highly ethical and responsible for you to inform your partner(s) if your results are positive.

This is one of many issues that need to be addressed immediately. HIV prevention is possible with education. The Black church needs to be held accountable since it claims to have the best interest of the community as its primary responsibility. If the lack of acknowledgement, assistance, and compassion shown is considered responsible, I fear the future endeavors of the church.

How many theists do you know that were raptured up on Saturday, May 21, 2011?

Did any theists leave behind notes to share with us unbelievers?

Did they sign over their assets to you?

Do you have plans to become a squatter at that nice cathedral on the corner since no one is using it anymore? It will make a nice condo community! It already has a nice wading pool that can be converted into a jacuzzi.

* Do you listen to gopel music?
* Do you listen to church sermons?
* Do you still enjoy the annual church picnic and trips?
* Do you attend church, programs, fundraisers, musicals, etc.?

Why do some freethinkers continue to hold onto religious beliefs, stigmas, and arguments?

* Do you feel that homosexuality is an abomination?
* Do you feel that abortion is not a womans right to choose?
* Is your definition of marriage consistent with that of the church (one man & one woman)?
* Do you believe that there is an afterlife?
* Do you believe that mental healthcare is not necessary and counter-productive to a person moving forward? Will time heal all wounds?
* Is pedophilia excusable under any circumstance?